Bike
MTB
Learn to brake with Rob Warner and Tom Oehler
The dynamic duo explain the best technique to get you stopping your MTB perfectly.
1 min
Learn how to brake with Rob Warner and Tom Oehler
Rob Warner and Tom Oehler explain the finer arts of braking on a MTB.
Braking may appear to be a simple case of pressing down your fingers on the the levers, but that belies the actual technique involved in stopping or killing your speed on a mountain bike.
There's probably no better two people more perfect to illustrate the dark arts of braking than Austrian trials star Tom Oehler and Red Bull TV commentator and former downhiller Rob Warner given their respective skills as riders.
Watch the video above for their guide on how to brake.
The steps to mastering braking
- Find a slope, preferably on a downhill trail.
- Ride at a speed you’re comfortable with.
- When using the rear brake, bring your weight back towards the rear of the bike.
- Squeeze the rear brake.
- Drop your heels on the pedals.
- Slowly bring yourself to a stop, but don’t skid.
- For the front brake, don’t pull on the lever too hard otherwise you’ll go over the handlebars or lock your front wheel.
- Use both front and rear brake together for maximum stopping power. Your rear brake is 30 percent of your stopping power, while the front makes up the other 70 percent.
Discover more How to MTB on with Rob and Tom here or click on the related stories below.
